Spring Break Safety Tips

March 12, 2019 Author: Liz Giannetti

The team at Titan Insurance Services is so over winter! We hope you’re celebrating the end of it with a spring break getaway!

Whether you’re going to hang out locally, bask on a sunny, white-sand beach in the Caribbean or hit the slopes for some skiing or snowboarding, you have to take precautions to ensure your home stays safe while you’re away. After all, what could be worse than returning from a relaxing break or an active adventure to find a disaster has occurred, such as a break-in, or water or fire damage?

Here are our tips before you hit the road:

Check for any leaks and fix them. For example, ensure your refrigerator ice maker is not leaking!

Set your heater at approximately 50 degrees to ensure pipes and appliances don’t freeze. But if you have pets and they are going to be in the house, set it closer to 72 degrees.

If you have pets, make arrangements for their comfort and safety: either board them or have a friend come over daily to care for them.

Turn furnace and hot water heaters down.

Unplug all appliances, such as coffee makers, toasters and exercise equipment.

Leave a light or two on so the house doesn’t appear deserted at night.

Lower blinds and close curtains so that passers-by can’t view your valuables.

Leave a key with a trusted friend or neighbor so they can enter the home in case of emergency.

Have a friend or neighbor bring in newspapers and mail (or just cancel delivery for both during the time when you’ll be away).

Save the social media posts until you’re home … posting on vacation is an advertisement that your home is empty!

Doug’s Did You Know?

The modern-day spring break began to emerge in the 1930s, when the Colgate College swim team started traveling to Fort Lauderdale for training. Before long, swimmers from around the country started attending competitions in Florida.